Walking the Talk: WOMEN’S WAY’s Commitment to Gender Inclusion

Laura Belmont (she/her), WOMEN’S WAY Board Chair

At WOMEN’S WAY, we are proud to stand at the forefront of advancing equity and justice. We accomplish this through our programs, grantmaking and capacity building, and advocacy. And also through our intentional self-reflection at the individual and organizational levels. As an organization rooted in uplifting women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals, we know that the work of inclusion must begin at home. That’s why our board and staff are embarking on a powerful journey toward greater gender inclusivity–one that aligns with our mission, sharpens our competencies, and strengthens our impact.

This spring, WOMEN’S WAY launched a comprehensive gender inclusivity training program led by the brilliant Tristan Katz (they/he), a nationally recognized equity-inclusion facilitator. Tristan brings a unique blend of compassion, rigor, and cultural fluency to the table, drawing from years of experience in digital strategy, anti-oppression work, and queer and trans advocacy. Their approach is deeply informed by intersectionality and a commitment to shifting dominant narratives that often marginalize and harm queer and trans people.

Why We’re Doing This, Now

Gender justice is under attack. From restrictive legislation targeting trans and nonbinary youth to persistent economic and healthcare inequities facing women and gender-expansive individuals, the urgency for organizations like ours to take a clear and courageous stance has never been greater.

But leadership requires more than statements. It demands alignment between values and practice. For WOMEN’S WAY, that means interrogating the assumptions baked into our internal structures, deepening our understanding of gender beyond the binary, and ensuring our team culture is one where all people feel seen, respected, and empowered.

We are committed to doing this not as a one-off training or checkbox exercise, but as a sustained investment in cultural transformation. As a board and staff, we are not only asking “What more can we do for gender justice externally?” but also “How can we embody that justice in the ways we work together, govern, and lead?”

About the Training

Over the course of several months, WOMEN’S WAY board and staff will participate in six two-to- three hour virtual learning sessions led by Tristan Katz. Each session is designed to both challenge and support participants as we explore essential topics such as:

• The history and construction of the gender binary
• Transphobia, anti-trans bias, and harm
• Healing, repair, and accountability in organizational settings
• Inclusive language and marketing practices
• Power dynamics, social location, and white supremacy culture
• Fostering an inclusive culture

The sessions combine lecture, coaching, and conversation to create space for real-time reflection and practice. These aren’t easy conversations, but they are necessary ones.

Measuring Growth, Building Accountability

To help ensure the integration of what we learn, Tristan’s program includes tools for assessment and reflection, enabling us to track comprehension and identify next steps at the individual and organizational levels. This scaffolding will be vital in helping us embed inclusive practices into all facets of our work, from our theory of change and strategic plan to program design to communications to representation in staff and board members. In addition, Tristan will provide us with a systematization plan to ensure long-term sustainability of equity and inclusion efforts.

Accountability is a throughline in this journey. We know that one training cycle won’t make us “experts” in gender inclusion. But it will make us more intentional and more capable of living our values out loud.

The Work Starts Within

This initiative reflects WOMEN’S WAY’s deep commitment to continuous learning, even and especially when it’s uncomfortable. It is a call to our peers in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and social justice work: equity begins not only in what we fund or advocate for, but in how we show up within our own institutions.

As we continue on this journey, we aim to center more voices with lived experience, and we invite those with privilege to step forward as active allies and, in the words of Bettina Love, as co-conspirators.

We invite our community to follow our progress, ask us questions, and hold us accountable. Because this work isn’t just important, it’s imperative. And it starts with us.

About the Author
Laura Belmont is General Counsel at Civis Analytics, where she leads the company’s legal and compliance strategy, with a focus on data protection, privacy, and corporate governance. She previously held legal roles at Comcast Cable, Latham & Watkins LLP, and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. A longtime advocate for civic engagement and equity, she served as a Regional Voter Protection Director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party during the 2020 election. Laura is the Board Chair of WOMEN’S WAY and has been recognized for her leadership by Attorney Intel and The Legal Intelligencer. She lives in Pennsylvania with her spouse and two children.